About Mary

“Yoga is like untying knots in a piece of string, not just the knots of tension in the physical body but the easing of the tangled mind”

I am a yoga teacher based in Gwynedd North West Wales. My yoga classes and workshops focus on enabling participants to practice at their own level, explore their edge gently and treat their body with kindness and respect. I believe yoga is about adapting the posture to fit the body rather than forcing the body to fit the pose, about finding ways to create space where the body is stuck, and allowing a sense of spaciousness and freedom. When the body is in balance, we can begin to explore the higher levels of yoga. Only when the body is relaxed can the mind become still.
The yoga I teach combines a blend of elements of 3 styles from the Krishnamacha lineage. Ashtanga, which is a strong dynamic and heat-generating practice, Iyengar which focuses on alignment and Vini Yoga, which is more fluid and gentle. I also teach Yin Yoga, where floor based postures are held in stillness to free the energy channels incorporating the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
In my classes and in private one-to-one sessions, I aim to teach in a way that is both playful, mindful and encourages a sense of enquiry. Adapting the practice to the needs of the individual I have been teaching since 2001, still I feel a great sense of joy and contentment when teaching and practicing yoga.

My earliest memories of yoga are from when I was about 5 years old. I would practice sun salutations with my mum, and at bedtime, she would guide me through Yoga Nidra (a relaxation practice). I’m so grateful to her for introducing me to yoga at such a young age.

Like many teenagers, I went through a bit of a rebellious phase. I thought anything my parents did was pretty uncool, so I ditched yoga in favour of nights out, drinking, and eating junk food. During that time, I became stressed and burnt out. I remember feeling like something was missing, especially on days when I felt anxious or tired. I tried to fill the void, delicious food, taking a bath, a glass or 3 of wine, but nothing worked. I was still searching for something.

One rainy Sunday afternoon, I found glimpse of that something. While looking through my parents’ bookshelves, I came across a 1970’s yoga book. I spent an hour or so working through the postures, and as I did I rediscovered a sense of calm and stillness I hadn’t felt since childhood. My worries seemed to melt away, and I knew right then that yoga was something I needed in my life. I enrolled in weekly classes. What started as one class a week quickly grew to two, and eventually, I began a daily self practice.

At that time, I was working as a swimming teacher, and I started using simple yoga techniques to help swimmers who were afraid of water. I was amazed by how much difference it made. When I shared this with my yoga teacher, Gillian, she encouraged me to pursue yoga teaching further.

Having completed my Teacher Training in the UK, I travelled to India many times to deepen my own practice and Teaching experience.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to learn from and work directly with incredible teachers, including John Scott, Liz Lark, Donna Farhi, Kino MacGregor, Godfrey Devereux, Paul Grilley and Sarah Powers. Their teachings have enriched my practice and inspired me as a teacher. I am deeply grateful to all of them.

For me, practicing yoga is like untying knots in a piece of string. It’s not just about releasing tension in the body, but also easing the knots of a tangled mind. I look forward to welcoming new students into my classes and witnessing the positive impact yoga has on their lives.

My mum, who once watched me rebel against yoga, now attends my online classes. I think it’s hard for her not to say, “I told you so.”

I am a level 4 yoga teacher and yoga therapist, breathwork instructor, level 2 swimming coach, open water swimming coach and RLSS open water lifeguard. I am is also a qualified Thai yoga massage therapist and a level 3 Reiki practitioner.